Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay
I-League Media Team

SILIGURI: Eugeneson Lyngdoh, the midfield general of the Blues, has been an example when it comes to the incarnation of someone as a footballer. Leaving the engineering course midway and taking up football was the turning point of Eugene who has proved himself time and again as one of the linchpins of Bengaluru FC.

The astute gaffer Ashley Westwood handpicked Eugene from Rangdajied United and it proved to be nothing less than the Midas touch for the wonder boy. Even he earned huge plaudits from the connoisseurs when he provided an inch-perfect assist to skipper Sunil Chhetri on his national team debut, an inspiring tale to share indeed.

Having earned the ‘Best Midfielder’ award for two consecutive years, Eugene is still basking in the glory of winning his maiden Hero I-League silverware with the Steelmen. On an exclusive tete-a-tete session, he disclosed many a thing including his engineering days and his dream of representing the nation in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup.

EXCERPTS:

You have recently won your first Hero I-League trophy with Bengaluru FC. How could you define that?

See, for most of my teammates this has been the second I-League trophy but for me, it’s the first one. The euphoria of the first time is just unmatchable, let alone the Hero I-League, the premier award of Indian football. Being a footballer, you’ll always push your limits to win something, to achieve more. Winning the Hero I-League with Bengaluru FC has been always our top priority and by god’s grace, we have achieved it eventually.

Once you came back after the prolonged injury, the Blues were looking a completely different outfit. How much Bengaluru FC bank on Eugeneson Lyngdoh?

No, I don’t see like this. We have more than one talented player in every position and everyone is ready to fill in anyone’s shoes. In the AFC Cup tie against Ayeyawady United, gaffer put in those youngsters and they carried out their job immaculately. Whoever was put in, he has reciprocated on the pitch. Otherwise, Hero I-League would have eluded us again. Our team hit the right chord at the right time.

Now you are the proud owner of the ‘Best Midfielder of Hero I-League’ for consecutive two years. How do you look towards the personal feat?

Yeah, obviously I feel on top of the world having won the award for two years on a trot, but the entire credit goes to the Bengaluru FC support stuff. They pulled through a humongous task to keep us fit, even during my injury, they worked tirelessly to bring me back on the pitch. Then come the technical tidbits and tactical inputs. Our gaffer is an outright technical bloke and he always inspires us to try something new on the pitch. It’s because of the team effort we are here. That’s the unheard anecdote of the Blues, the strong bonding amongst the team men. No matter what happens, we always have our dinner together. There lies the foundation of Bengaluru FC.

Is the tag of ‘Defending Champions’ bothering you ahead of the forthcoming Hero Federation Cup?

Not really. End of the day, one team will win while others will not. It was our team effort which helped us winning the Hero Federation Cup. Every tournament starts from the scratch and we have to put more effort to get the job done. We have to start from zero and we’re ready to do that. If we can triumph the Hero Federation Cup after the Hero I-League, it’ll be nothing less than the icing on the cake.

Engineering dropout to Football, consecutive Best Midfielder award and representing the Indian National Team- How do you see your journey so far?

Oh yeah (Grins), it has been a fairytale for me, a dream come true situation. I have always fancied playing football but never got the opportunity. Finally, when it came, I couldn’t afford to let the opportunity go and grabbed it with both hands.

Rangdajied United to Bengaluru FC, how do you see this transfer in terms of your career?

The most important one, I must say. Remember, at that moment, Bengaluru FC had already triumphed over the I-league in their inaugural season. Being called by the champion club and donning their colour was something beyond my dream. I’ll always cherish that moment. Now winning the league with them is enigmatic. The day will always be etched in my book.

You have ticked off almost every box till now. What’s next for you?

As my personal goal, I’ll push myself harder to play a part in the upcoming national team fixtures so that we can qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. We all are striving to seal a berth in the AFC Asian Cup, that’s the biggest thing coming up.

If not Bengaluru FC, which club do you want to play for?

Huh, I haven’t thought of that, frankly speaking. They have got an impeccable setup and fortunately, I’m a part of it. I love this harmony in my career and as of now, I don’t want to get it rattled by any means.

Down the line after five years, where do you want to see yourself?

I always cherished the moment when I could take up football in my life. I always believe that you would put more than cent percent if you pursue your dream, your passion. I want to be a person to be looked upon so that youngsters could dare to live their dream, their passion. There’s nothing in being laid-back and let others go, there might be roadblocks on your pathway, but eventually, when you scale the height, you would feel it. I would be elated if I could inspire even one of the thousands of the youngsters in our country, grinding a self-belief within them.

If not a footballer, where would Eugeneson Lyngdoh have landed in his life?

Oh, please don’t give me that feeling (laughs). I ought to have wrapped up my engineering and then a job in an MNC. It would have been a nightmare for me, really (laughs).

You have worked under the tutelage of Ashley Westwood and Stephen Constantine. Is there any parity between these two British coaches?

I don’t think so. Albeit both are British, it doesn’t mean that both should adopt a similar strategy. Both approach the game with their own philosophies, they have an entirely different lookout towards the ball game.